“I’m a Sole Man…”

The Pentagon always says it loves free and open ompetition when it comes to awarding contracts. Loves it so much that a generation ago it tapped senior military officers to be so-called “competition advocates general.”

These days, not so much.

Battleland was struck running down Monday’s list of contract awards to see so many like these below. See if you can figure out what they have in common:

General Dynamics Ordnance Systems, Repentigny, Canada, was awarded a $16,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of M1037 5.56mm short range training ammunition. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 11, 2017. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15QKN-13-D-0021).

SCOLA, McClelland, Iowa, was awarded a $13,335,756 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure foreign language television access and associated foreign media research and language content. Work will be performed in Monterey, Calif., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 25, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Presidio of Monterey, Calif., is the contracting activity (W91LV2-11-C-0009)

Lockheed Martin Corp. — Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Texas, was awarded a $12,500,000 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract. The award will provide for the establishment of a Patriot Advanced Capability-3/Missile Segment Enhancement Missile Field Test Program. Work will be performed in Grand Prairie, with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2014. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-13-C-0094).

Hodges Transportation, Silver Springs, Nev., was awarded a $9,500,000 firm-fixed-price level-of-effort contract. The award will provide for the prototype, testing and evaluation services. Work location will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 25, 2015. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-13-D-L001).

Yulista Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, was awarded a $9,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract. The award will provide for the procurement of a Transportable Flight Proficiency Simulator and Lift System in support of Foreign Military Sales. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2014. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-13-C-0030).

Exelis Inc., Alexandria, Va., was awarded an $8,972,902 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for the modification of an existing contract to procure lethality testing services. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2013. The bid was solicited through the Internet, with one bid received. The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W9113M-05-C-0219).

They all note they were solicited through the Internet, “with one bid received.”

Hmmm…something tells Battleland there’s a reason only one company bid on each of these contracts. But something else tells Battleland that the Pentagon, by noting they were put out to bid on the Internet, will claim competition took place for each of them.

Covering the Pentagon for decades can turn even a one-time altar boy into a skeptic.